Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-10-22
Especial Correspondence.l

Crazy Congressman-The White House.
"Reminiscences of Andrew johnson.
Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, Oct. 13.-Washington is
as dull today as were Sodom and Co
morrah the week following the great fire.
The presidents absence causes dearth
of news about the White House, and a
number Of the cabinet officers are away
from the city There will be little doing
until Mr.. Cleveland comes back, and then
the life blood of political and social action
will flow freely. The coming congressional
session will he one Of the spiciest the
country has had for years. The floors Of
the house and senate will form the battle
ground Of the two partics and each will
struggle to make capital for the coming
campaign out of the mistakes Of the
other There will be hair pulling and hot
words, and the tongues of ingalls, and
otho>s will be creased with oil Of vitriol
am told by prominent lndianians that
the new senator, David Turpie, will be the
Ingalls, of the Democratic side of the SEN
ate chamber and that he may take the
laurels of sarcasm from the sharp tOngued
| Kansan. "Dave Turpie,' seid one of
| these gentlemen, twill be one of the
strongest men in the senate, and he will
be the ablest speaker on the Democratic
side Of the chamber. He is one of the
best read men in the United States, and
he possesses a curious combination Of diff
dence and check. He is at home no place
but while upon his feet speaking, and he
does not impress strangers as being
great man. He is backward and modest
in private life, and does not indulge to any
extent in convivial society. He makes
friends slowly, but he sticks to his friends
to the last and fights for them. He hates
his enemies, too, and he believes, | think,
in the philosophy of revenge. lie is a
great reader, and is a fine classical
scholar. He can speak French, German
and Italian. and lie has such good accent
in each Of these that lie is often mistaken
for t. foreigner l don't think he las ever
Travelled to any extent abroad, and he has
acquired his culture by private study lie
is wilowCr, but he will not cut any
figure in Washington society. lie will not
be seen much about the hotels, and he
will spend most Of his time at home and
in the senate. He is very plain in his
dress and his Eanners and he cares little
for style. He is a giant, however, upon
the stump"
Washington will be as lively socially as
politically. The two clements will run
together, and many q political ak will be
ground this winter on tho social grind
stone. The administration will make
friends at the White House dinners aud
receptions, and the cabinet will not hest
! tate to add their entertainments to the
| same cause. Secretary Whitney will give
! many entertainments, and champagne will
! flow rs freely there as it did last year and
the year before. Secretary Fairchild has
/ taken n new house near Dupont circle,
! and Mra Epipcl,ill will Iva Of tba rop
talked of ladies Of Washington this
winter. The Endcotts will remain in tho
Pendleton mansion on Sixteenth street,
md it is probable that Secretary Lamar
will entertain to some extent.
AS to the Republicans, Senator Sher-
man will give his usual receptions and
dinners, and Senator Ingalls, will, an,
told keep open house this year. Senator
Palmer always entertains profuscly, and
as the new senator from Michigan, Mr..
Stockbridge, is very wealthy, he Will
probably be among the dinner givcrs.
Senator Davis, of Minnesota, will bring q
beauty to Washington in the person OF
his wife, and the new blood which will be
added to the capital by the next senate
promises to make things lively.
In the meantime ! hear many com
plants about the increased expense Of
living il Washington, ard the high rents
are troubling many statesman whose
salary is his sole income. Houses in tx
fashionable section nov rent from 5000 L
$4,000 year, and the 5000 houses arr
as a rule little ones Of six or eight rooms
Almost any kind of q house that a states
man wants to live in will cost him S1C0 o.
$500 month, and if he wants hous,
large enough to be conspicuous it will cos
him from three to five times this amount
| Tl,is far no mr.
, furnishe houses, AMI furniture SO rentct
brings in as a rule about : per cent.
month, A Washington paper containiu.
rent 2dvCe 'ScElcnts lies before me rs
write and 1t has columns of houses TO
: rent at from 81 eco Per month down
When you consider that a congressman
gets only SAIL month you can see that
house that costs him $500 or cocoa month
takes large part of his salary. Tho cos
of living outside of house rent is deare
here than in many other large cities. Pro
visions are plenty and OF the best, bu
. they bring the highest prices, and goot
butter sells from thirty!ive cents aud up
/. ward pound now and certain grades cos
ST onring the season. Meats are higi
! AMI Chicago meats are as n rule sold.
, The Washington markets are IS good n
Z any in the United States, and fine freSl
! vegetables are furnished at ell seasons
D though they are, Us a rule, dear. Fish
oysters and terrapin arc On sale and tina
!, OF the best quality, and the terrapi'
brought to Washington is the Potora
:. terrapin, which is, perhaps, the finest O
: its KIND in the world.
II costs more to keep table now thai
it did twenty years ego. Nc nave NOR
high Evcrs and extravaganza Is contn
r0ns. The custom Of wine drinking /
growing, and there are now wine store
:. here who display their goods as openly t
do those of Paris. All the leading grocer
carry fine stocks of wines, and many @
Z the most prominent houses Of the eli.
have adopted the European custom Of Gl
ways having wine at dinner.
In the meantime drunkenness has nc
. increased among public men, though noH
. and then disgraccful instances Of it CccGr
There was q member Of the United state
senate who was in a state OF chronic II
toXic2tion al last session, and ! was sur
prised, upon entering 4 HcrGic car yCster
: / day, to see an CX-conCres2lGGn, who stu
stands high in his state, sitting near III
far box, and evidently drunk Ills IN:
, was red, hi, eyes glazed and wild. h
h.,r laJ nj